Tillerson pays unannounced visit to Baghdad

Baghdad [Iraq], October 24 : U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad, just hours after returning from a similar surprise visit to Afghanistan.

According to reports, Tillerson met Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who accused the former of interfering in Iraqi affairs, and President Fouad Massoum.

Prime Minister Abadi's accusition came after the U.S. Secretary of State on Sunday said, it was time for Iranian-backed militias to exit the war-torn nation of Iraq.

A statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's office, which however did not cite Abadi himself, read, "No party has the right to interfere in Iraqi matters."

On a related note, the U.S. Secretary of State also held talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani where they discussed international efforts to fight against the ISIS terror group, besides the latest developments in the region, especially in Iraq, Syria and Palestine.

According to reports, Tillerson reached Baghdad for talks with senior officials about Iran, the Kurdish independence movement, and rebuilding efforts after the defeat of the IS group in major Iraqi towns and cities.